Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-01-05

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

05 JANUARY

2001 Friday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

NATIONAL PROGRAMME FINALIZED
The National Programme which will lead Turkey to the European Union (EU) full membership was finalized. The programme will be taken up in detail at a summit meeting among leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government in mid-January. Meanwhile, Volkan Vural, the secretary general of Turkey for the European Union (EU), said, ''the National Programme is the biggest project in the history of the Republic after Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's reforms. It includes all parts of the society. The National Programme reveals Turkey's determination to prepare itself to the 21st century.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

PLATINI IN TURKEY
World-wide famous legendary football player Michel Platini of France arrived in Istanbul. Platini will attend a seminar on ''Sports Journalism in New Millennium'' that will be hosted by the Turkish Sports Journalists' Association (TSYD) in southern province of Antalya on Friday. Stressing that the Turkish teams had not been so powerful while he was playing football, Platini said that they understood the level of the Turkish football when successes of Galatasaray and successes of Turkey in Euro 2000 were taken into consideration. Michel Platini will leave Istanbul for Antalya late on the same day.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

ECONOMIC REASONS CAUSE SUICIDES
A research made by Assistant Professor Faruk Guclu from the Abant Izzet Baysal University's Economic Sciences Faculty revealed that number of suicides increase in the periods in which economic programmes are implemented. According to the research, the rate of economic reasons for suicides in last two decades increased seven fold. The rate of suicides due to economic reasons which had been 10 percent in 1980 rose to 69.3 percent in last two years.

DEATH FASTS ENTERS 78TH DAY
Families of Mehmet Dogan, Bulent Ozdemir, Ozgur Saglam, Serdar Turan and Mizrap Ates stressed that they couldn't speak to their children who had been sent to F type prisons after their medical care at the Haydarpasa Numune Hospital in Istanbul. Contemporary Jurists' Association member lawyers denounced the Prime Ministry and some ministries to the court claiming that ''they had killed people in prisons and had the intention to murder during operations in prisons''. The Association of Relatives of Prisoners claimed that prisoners at F type prisons were exposed to torture and requested the authorities to cure injuries of prisoners.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

FIVE PEOPLE ATTACKING ON POLICE VEHICLE, ARRESTED
Five out of 15 people who were captured in connection with the ambush on a police vehicle in Gaziosmanpasa district of Istanbul in December 2000 in which two policemen were killed and 12 others were injured, were arrested. Nazmi Okumus, the republican prosecutor of Istanbul State Security Court (DGM), interrogated the detainees including members of the illegal organization Turkish Workers and Peasant Liberation Army (TKP/ML-TIKKO) who were detained in an operation on December 28, 2000. Zeynel Karatas, Sereffettin Yer, Erbil Kizil, Ozlem Eker and Ozgur Eker were arrested by the Istanbul DGM no:1 on charges of ''being a member of an illegal organization'' while ten detainees were released.

PARLIAMENTARY HUMAN RIGHTS INQUIRY COMMISSION TO VISIT F TYPE PRISON
The Parliamentary Human Rights Inquiry Commission set up a sub-commission to investigate allegations put forward following last month's intervention in prisons. The commission held a one-hour meeting under the chairmanship of Huseyin Akgul, a deputy of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) from Manisa. The sub-commission formed by Hasan Macit of the Democratic Left Party (DSP); Abbas Bozyel of the MHP, Mirac Akdogan of the Motherland Party (ANAP); Nezir Aydin of the Virtue Party (FP); and Kamer Genc of the True Path Party (DYP); will visit the F type prison in Sincan township of Ankara later today.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

IMF DELEGATION DUE IN TURKEY
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation will come to Turkey on January 12. The IMF delegation will pay a visit to Turkey every month in the first quarter of 2001. The IMF delegation headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli will stay in Turkey for one week. The delegation will mainly deal with the banking sector and will debate the measures to be taken within the framework of the Supplemental Reserve Facility (SRF) and the privatization program.

TREASURY FORESEES 33 QUADRILLION TL DOMESTIC BORROWING THIS YEAR
The Treasury foresees 33 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) domestic borrowing in 2001. Officials said that Turkey would exceed its foreign borrowing target which was planned to be around 7.5 billion U.S. dollars this year. The Treasury which will arrange the first tender of the year on Friday foresees a net borrowing of 1.5-1,650 quadrillion TL. The Treasury targets at repaying 9 quadrillion 374 trillon TL domestic debt in the first quarter of 2001.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

SCANDAL AT CUSTOMS
State Minister Mehmet Kececiler said that declarations of property by customs officials had been observed seriously. ''146 officials were laid off and 30 others were dismissed,'' he said. Noting that it was revealed that one of a former customs managing director had a 560 billion Turkish liras of property for which the source was unknown, Kececiler said that the issue had been brought to court.

1 QUADRILLION LIRAS OF SWINDLING
A. Yakup Reisoglu, the owner of Anadolu Otomotiv A.S. who was wanted be police was captured. The suspect is claimed to have swindled more than 1 billion U.S. dollars with fictitious exports.

CONTRACTED MILITARY OFFICERS APPROVED
The Parliamentary National Defense Commission approved a resolution which foresaw employment of contracted officers and non-commissioned officers at the Turkish Armed Forces.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

FOUR RIVALS TO DEMIREL
Four more people including three women are willing to be the ombudsman authority for which former President Suleyman Demirel is planned to be assigned. Those three women are retired teachers and the last person is a jurist. All of them submitted their applications to the parliament. The parliament will determine 22 candidates for one omboudsman and ten assistants.

TELE ON'S RIGHT OF BROADCASTING SOCCER MATCHES LIVE ANNULLED
The Turkish Football Federation said that it annulled the contract with Cem Uzan's television channel Tele On for live broadcasting of Turkish First Division soccer matches as it failed to fulfil its liabilities. The Federation said that a new tender process started and Tele On wouldn't bid for the tender.

TERRORIST GETS PASSPORT WHILE HE IS WANTED BY POLICE
It was revealed that terrorist Gultekin Koc who staged suicide bomb attack on the security department in Sisli had got passport from the Istanbul Security Department to go to Germany while he was wanted by police in his absentia.

-2001 YEAR INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
ANKARA - The 2001 Year Investment Programme was published in Friday's Official Gazette.

According to the programme, a 6 quadrillion 887 trillion Turkish lira (TL) investment will be made in 2001.

In accordance with the programme, a 1 quadrillion 570.2 trillion TL investment will be made in the energy sector and it will be followed by the transportation sector in which a 1 quadrillion 543.4 trillion TL investment will be made.

The state will invest 1 quadrillion 152.6 trillion TL in education sector, 503 trillion TL in agriculture sector, 400.7 trillion in health sector, and 469.6 trillion TL in manufacturing.

Meanwhile, the number of projects reduced to 5,047 in 2001. The cost of these projects is 105 quadrillion 205 trillion TL while 33 quadrillion 776 trillion has been expended in these projects until the end of 2000.

This year, 5 quadrillion 76.3 trillion TL will be spent on continuing projects, and 1 quadrillion 625.3 trillion TL will be spent on new projects while 185.2 trillion TL will be allocated to etude-projects.

The U.S. dollars currency was calculated as 714 thousand TL in 2001 year investments.

-TURKEY'S ECONOMY IN 2001 TO BE DISCUSSED IN KONYA
ANKARA - State Minister Mehmet Kececiler will attend a panel discussion on ''Turkey's Economy, Targets and Expectations in 2001'' which will be held in central province of Konya on Saturday.

The State Ministry said on Friday that the panel discussion would be held in two sessions in which Turkey's economy in 2001 would be assessed and targets and expectations in 2001 would be put forward.

It said that academicians would express their opinions in the first session, and representatives of political parties would convey their opinions in the second session of the panel discussion.

-TURKEY-NEW ZEALAND POLITICAL CONSULTATION MECHANISM TO BE FORMED
ANKARA- The Council of Ministers approved a memorandum of understanding on formation of a political consultation mechanism between the foreign ministries of Turkey and New Zealand.

The memorandum of understanding which was published in Friday's Official Gazette, foresees formation of a regular consultation mechanism to develop cooperation between the Foreign Ministry and the Foreign and Trade Ministry of New Zealand.

Within framework of the memorandum of understanding, consultations will be made by high-level diplomats of Turkey and New Zealand in Ankara and Wellington and at other platforms.

-EXPORTS OF TEXTILES FROM BURSA INCREASE
13.5 PERCENT TO 440 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS
BURSA- Exports of textiles from Bursa province in Marmara region rose 13.5 percent to 440 million U.S. dollars in 2000.

According to the Uludag Exporters' Associations statistics, textiles were exported to 106 countries and autonomous regions and eight free areas in 2000.

Exports of textiles from Bursa had been 387 million 690 thousand U.S. dollars in 1999.

The top ten countries to which textiles were exported between January 1 and December 31, 2000 are as follows:

. Exports

. (USD 1.000) Difference

Name of Country 1999 2000 (percent)

----------------- -------- -------- ------
Germany 73.490 70.189 -4,5

U.S. 56.120 55.412 -1.3
Italy 39.733 46.551 17.2

Britain 39.178 40.369 3.0

Egypt 17.877 20.672 15.6

Istanbul Free Area 5.969 16.015 168.3

France 17.989 14.429 -19.8

Netherlands 10.360 11.440 10.4

Spain 6.240 10.317 65.3

Greece 6.203 8.903 43.5

Total 387.690 440.071 13.5

-ANKARA TO HOST INTERNATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
CONVENTION BETWEEN JANUARY 9 AND 13, 2001
ANKARA- International Constitutional Law Convention organized by the Bars' Union of Turkey will be held in Ankara between January 9 and 13, 2001.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk and Eralp Ozgen, the chairman of Bars' Union of Turkey, are expected to participate in the convention as speakers.

On the first day of the convention, two conferences on ''Constitutionalism Movement in the World and New Constitutions'' and ''Constitutionalism in Turkey and Constitution Culture'' will be organized.

Mustafa Bumin, the chairman of constitutional court, and Nejat Arseven, the acting speaker of parliament, will preside the conferences.

On the second day, issues such as ''Basic Rights and Freedoms: Scope, Restriction and Violation'', ''Economic, Social and Cultural Rights'' and ''New Developments and Third Generation Rights'' will be discussed.

A conference on ''Political Systems'' will be held on the third day of the convention.

On the fourth day, a session will be held on ''Globalization, Universal Values and National Sovereignty''.

Academicians from Turkey, Brazil, Germany, Egypt, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain will attend the convention.

-NUMBER OF TOURISTS VISITING TRABZON
PROVINCE INCREASES 95 PERCENT
TRABZON- Number of Turkish and foreign tourists visiting historical and touristic places in northern Trabzon province increased 95 percent in 2000 compared to previous years.

Officials at Governor's Office in Trabzon told the A.A correspondent on Friday that a total of 828 thousand 930 tourists including 175 thousand 750 foreigners, visited the historical and touristic places including Sumela Monastery.

In 1999, 424 thousand 516 tourists including 123 thousand 547 foreigners visited the region.

-TOTAL DEPOSITS AT BANKS REACH 63 QUADRILLION TL
ANKARA- The total deposits at banks increased 2 quadrillion 146.5 trillion Turkish Liras (TL) to 63 quadrillion 109.8 trillion TL between December 15 and 22, 2000.

The Central Bank data shows that the total deposit which was 60 quadrillion 963.2 trillion TL on December 15 increased to 63 quadrillion 109.8 trillion TL on December 22.

When the inter-banks deposits are not considered, the total deposit, which was 53 quadrillion 842.2 trillion TL on December 15, increased 1 quadrillion 620.3 trillion TL to 55 quadrillion 462.6 trillion TL on December 22.

The total TL deposit increased 1 quadrillion 889.1 trillion TL to 30 quadrillion 138.5 trillion TL on December 22. The total TL deposit was 28 quadrillion 249.4 trillion on December 15.

As of December 22, the total TL deposit was composed of 18 quadrillion 160.7 trillion TL deposits at public banks, 11 quadrillion 601.8 trillion TL of deposits at private deposit banks and 310.2.2 trillion TL of deposits at foreign banks.

The foreign exchange accounts at banks decreased 268.8 trillion TL to 25 quadrillion 324 trillion TL on December 22.

-DIE OFFICIALS SAY DEFINITE RESULTS OF
CENSUS CAN BE ANNOUNCED WITHIN 6-8 MONTHS
ANKARA- Officials at the State Institute of Statistics (DIE) said on Friday that definite results of the census on October 22, 2000 could be announced within six-eight months.

They said that thay targeted to announce definite population of three-four provinces until the end of January of 2001.

Officials said that counting works were under way in fifteen provinces including Kahramanmaras, Agri, Burdur, Gumushane and Manisa due to phony identity cards.

They added that they targeted to announce definite results of census in three or four of Kilis, Bilecik, Balikesir, Canakkale and Burdur provinces until the end of this month.

-SECURITY FORCES FIND AN ARSENAL BELONGED
TO TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PKK
DIYARBAKIR - Security forces found an arsenal belonged to the terrorist organization PKK in eastern Hakkari province on Friday.

Releasing a statement, the Emergency Rule Region Governor's Office said that security forces found an arsenal during operations against terrorist organization in rural areas in Hakkari.

In the arsenal, three flame-throwers, 23 hand-grenades and a great deal of explosives were confiscated.

-ANADOLU ISUZU TO SUSPEND PRODUCTION
ISTANBUL- Anadolu Isuzu Otomotiv Sanayi and Ticaret A.S., an automotive producer and trader, will suspend production between January 8 and January 12.

Sending a letter to the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), Anadolu Isuzu said on Friday that it would suspend production between January 8 and 12 due to the latest developments in Turkey's economy and decrease in demand in commercial vehicles.

-TURKISH BUSINESSMEN PARTICIPATE IN HEIM TEXTILES FAIR
IZMIR- A delegation of Turkish businessmen will participate in the HEIM Textiles Fair which will be held in Frankfurt, Germany between January 9-12 ,2001.

The delegation comprising Turkish businessmen living in Germany will hold a meeting with the German businessmen within framework of the fair and within framework of the efforts of the Turkish Association of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) to inform the Turkish businessmen on technological developments.

The Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO) said on Friday that the meeting would be presided by IZTO Assembly Chairman Necip Kalkan.

-CENTRAL BANK GIVES MARKET 840 TRILLION LIRAS WITH FIVE-DAY REPO AUCTION
ANKARA- Central Bank gave 840 trillion Turkish lira (TL) to the market with its five-day repo auction on Friday.

Sources said that the total bid had been 2 quadrillion 930.1 trillion TL while Central Bank met 840 trillion TL of this bid.

The composite interest rate became 117.20 percent and simple interest rate became 76.12 percent.

Meanwhile, Treasury sold 250 trillion TL of 14-month maturity debenture bonds to public organizations before its auctions the same day.

The maturity date of those bonds is February 20, 2002.

-ZILE MOLASSES IN EUROPEAN MARKETS
TOKAT- Orhan Ozkaleli, the director of the Ozkaleli Food Production and Marketing Corp. in Zile township of central Tokat province, said on Friday that white molasses was being sold in markets in many European countries.

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Ozkaleli said that the white molasses was being produced from unfermented grape-juice and white of egg.

Ozkaleli stressed that white molasses made a valuable contribution to mental development of the children.

He added, ''we export white molasses mainly to European countries including Germany, Italy and France. The white molasses is rich of protein and vitamin.''

-PROFILO TELRA STARTS EXPORTING CASH REGISTERS TO EU COUNTRIES
ISTANBUL - Profilo TELRA has started exporting cash registers to European Union (EU) countries.

Profilo TELRA started selling its latest model to Italy after the product drew a lot of attention at SMAU Retail Fair in Milan last year. A statement from Profilo said beside electricity, the cash registers can work with an internal battery for 12 hours a day.

Goksen Korezlioglu, Deputy President of Profilo TELRA said they were proud to start selling hundred percent Turkish made cash registers to an EU country.

Korezlioglu indicated that they were targeting to reach French and German markets and sell over 15,000 cash registers by the end of the year.

The cash registers manufactured by Profilo TELRA are compatible with the systems of many countries including Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Northern African countries.

-ISTANBUL TRAINING AGAINST DISASTERS PROJECT INTRODUCED TO PRESS
ISTANBUL- Istanbul Training Against Disasters Project which was developed by Bogazici University's Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Center was introduced to press on Friday.

Kandilli Observatory Director Prof. Ahmet Mete Isikara who spoke at the press conference said the project's goal was to minimize the damage at a possible earthquake and teach public how to behave in the aftermath of a quake.

As a part of the project, Isikara said they would distribute certain documents at schools end of this month and the students would be required to fill in these documents with their families.

One teacher from each school in Uskudar and Kadikoy will be trained on how to behave during earthquakes. Isikara said these teachers will later train other teachers and students at their schools.

-AMBASSADOR MEHMET AKAT TO BE APPOINTED TO BAGHDAD
ANKARA- Turkey who had no ambassadors in Iraq since 1992, raised its representation status in Baghdad in 1998 as a reaction to the United States.

Turkey decided to have an embassy in Baghdad on Sept. 16, 1998 after Kurdish leaders in Northern Iraq Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani were made to sign a joint declaration in Washington, D.C. by U.S. authorities.

Acting Prime Minister of the time, Bulent Ecevit had released a written statement saying that ''Ankara which had significant contributions to the maintenance of peace and security in Northern Iraq was excluded in the Washington declaration.'' Then Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Foreing Minister Ismail Cem who were in the United States at that time, were also informed about this statement.

Ecevit, in the statement said Turkey was reviewing its relations with Iraq and asked for an agreement from the Iraqi administration to send an ambassador to Baghdad.

Ankara thought the Washington declaration was a confirmation of Iraq's separation and speeded up the formation of a different political structure in Iraq. Through its statement, Ankara stressed that Turkey supported Iraq's territorial integrity and officially recognized its central administration.

The Foreign Ministry is responsible for the appointment of an ambassador to Iraq. Ambassador Mehmet Akat who has been Charge d'Affaires at the Turkish Embassy in London will serve as an ambassador in the Iraqi capital.

-TREASURY UNDERSECRETARIAT INCREASES MATURITY PERIOD OF SPECIAL
BONDS AND BONDS OF OBLIGATORY SAVINGS FUND FROM ONE TO FIVE YEARS
ANKARA- The Treasury Undersecretariat has increased the maturity period of special bonds it exported beginning of the year and the bonds of Obligatory Savings Fund from one to five years.

Labour union representatives reacted against the decision while Treasury authorities explained that this did not mean that the Fund would continue for another five years, adding that the bonds could be redeemed earlier if the fund is cancelled.

Turkish Civil Servants Union (Kamu-Sen) Chairman Resul Akay said the ''decision was disrespectful for workers'' adding that they would discuss the matter at the Labour Platform's meeting in Ankara on Jan. 9. Akay contended that people who have shares in the fund should have been consulted before taking decisions related to the Obligatory Savings Account.

Confederation of Public Labourers' Union (DISK) Chairman called on the government to keep its promise and liquidify the Obligatory Savings Fund and stressed that bonds with five year maturity periods were unacceptable.

It was stated that the special state bonds worth of 7.1 quadrillion TL would not create a problem with respect to the commitments Turkey made to the IMF regarding public borrowing stocks.

-DEATH TOLL AT SHIP ACCIDENT IN KEMER RISES TO TEN
ANTALYA - The death toll rose to ten after the ship accident which occured on the first day of the new year in Kemer.

Republic Prosecutor Umur Asrav told the A.A that the bodies or body parts which were found in the sea or on the shore were performed autopsy at Antalya State Hospital's morgue. Rescue workers found one leg today which increased the death toll from nine to ten.

Greek Captain of the ship Polizois Gulanis and six other crew members were sent to the Republic Prosecutor's Office earlier today where they were interrogated by Prosecutor Yusuf Hakki Dogan.

Georgian flagged cargo ship, Pati had split into two after it hit the rocks near Kemer's Kiris township in the first hours of the new year.

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM DUE IN SUDAN
ANKARA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will pay an official visit to Sudan.

Foreign Ministry issued a written statement and said Cem's visit will take place in January 9-10 upon the invitation of Mustafa Osman, the Sudanese Foreign Relations Minister.

The statement said political relations between the two countries, as well as the economic, trade, and cultural relations would be discussed during the visit, and noted that the sides would exchange views on regional and international issues concerning the two countries.

The statement said Economic Researches Foundation would stage a seminar titled ''Turkish-Sudanese trade and economic relations,'' during the visit of Cem.

-LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY MINISTER OKUYAN ASSURES THAT
MONEY COLLECTED AT OBLIGATORY SAVINGS FUND WILL BE DISTRIBUTED
TO SAVINGS HOLDERS
ANKARA- Labour and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan has said that it was impossible to pay all the savings in the Obligatory Savings Fund at once as a balloon payment to the savings holders but he stressed that these savings would definitely be paid in one way or another.

State Minister Recep Onal who is in charge of Treasury and representatives of non-governmental organizations are currently working on this matter, Okuyan said.

Okuyan received Turkey Retirees Association Chairperson Inci Koyuncu and Executive Board members on Friday. He indicated that it is impossible for retirees to support themselves with only their pension if they have no other incomes.

The disinflation programme's goal is to reduce the inflation to single digit numbers, Okuyan said, adding that without achieving this, it was not possible to create a relief for workers, civil servants or retirees. He also indicated that there were undergoing activities to improve health services to retirees at Social Security Authority (SSK) hospitals.

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